Cajuncowboy
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Vick Indicted
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CATCH17
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http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=100236
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted late Tuesday afternoon by a Federal Grand Jury in Richmond, Va., for one count of conspiracy to transport dogs across state lines for the purpose of dog fighting.
Vick became the focus of a federal dog fighting probe after an April 25 drug raid on his Surry County, Va., home. At that time, authorities seized 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment that suggested someone at the property was involved in a dog fighting operation.
Papers, filed earlier this month by federal authorities in U.S. District Court in Richmond, noted that dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002.
Fifty-four animals were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.
During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether dogs would be good fighters, the documents said.
Vick has claimed he rarely visits the Surry County home and was unaware of any criminal enterprise.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted late Tuesday afternoon by a Federal Grand Jury in Richmond, Va., for one count of conspiracy to transport dogs across state lines for the purpose of dog fighting.
Vick became the focus of a federal dog fighting probe after an April 25 drug raid on his Surry County, Va., home. At that time, authorities seized 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment that suggested someone at the property was involved in a dog fighting operation.
Papers, filed earlier this month by federal authorities in U.S. District Court in Richmond, noted that dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002.
Fifty-four animals were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.
During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether dogs would be good fighters, the documents said.
Vick has claimed he rarely visits the Surry County home and was unaware of any criminal enterprise.
ABQCOWBOY
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2940065
Falcons' Vick indicted by grand jury in dogfighting probe
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 17, 2007, 5:23 PM ET
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Michael Vick has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the dogfighting probe of his property in Virginia.
The Falcons quarterback was indicted for conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Richmond, Va. Three others -- Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor -- also were indicted by the grand jury on the same charges.
According to court documents filed by federal authorities earlier this month, dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. For the events, participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and other states.
Members of the venture also knowingly transported, delivered and received dogs for animal fighting, the documents state.
Fifty-four pit bulls were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.
The property was used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture," according to the filings.
The documents said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours. The winning dog would win from "hundreds up to thousands of dollars," and participants and spectators also would place bets on the fight.
Before fights, the participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance. Sometimes participants would not feed a dog before the fight to "make it more hungry for the other dog," the documents said.
Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents. The property has an above-ground swimming pool, and investigators were seen looking into the pool Friday.
During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether dogs would be good fighters, the documents said.
Members of "Bad Newz Kennels" also sponsored and exhibited fights in other parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and other states, the filings said.
On June 7, federal law enforcement officials descended on the property with a search warrant. More than a dozen vehicles went to the home early that day and investigators searched inside before turning their attention to the area where officials found dozens of dogs in late April and evidence that suggested the home was involved in a dogfighting operation.
Surry County officials had secured a search warrant in late May based on an informant's information to look for as many as 30 dog carcasses buried on the property. The warrant never was executed because Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter said he had issues with the way it was worded.
The results of that search have remained sealed.
At the time, Poindexter expressed surprise at why the federal government was involved.
"What is foreign to me is the federal government getting into a dogfighting case," Poindexter said. "I know it's been done, but what's driving this? Is it this boy's celebrity? Would they have done this if it wasn't Michael Vick?"
A day later, "They launched a separate, independent federal investigation," Poindexter said of the government, which has had a representative involved in the local probe all along.
A search warrant affidavit said some of the dogs were in individual kennels and about 30 were tethered with "heavy logging-type chains" buried in the ground. The chains allowed the dogs to get close to each other, but not to have contact, one of myriad findings on the property that suggested a dogfighting operation.
Vick initially said he had no idea the property might have been used in a criminal enterprise and blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity. He also put the house up for sale and reportedly sold it quickly, although there is no record that the sale has closed. Vick has since declined to talk about the investigation.
ESPN reporter Kelly Naqi and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Falcons' Vick indicted by grand jury in dogfighting probe
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 17, 2007, 5:23 PM ET
Comment
Michael Vick has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the dogfighting probe of his property in Virginia.
The Falcons quarterback was indicted for conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Richmond, Va. Three others -- Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor -- also were indicted by the grand jury on the same charges.
According to court documents filed by federal authorities earlier this month, dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. For the events, participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and other states.
Members of the venture also knowingly transported, delivered and received dogs for animal fighting, the documents state.
Fifty-four pit bulls were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.
The property was used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture," according to the filings.
The documents said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours. The winning dog would win from "hundreds up to thousands of dollars," and participants and spectators also would place bets on the fight.
Before fights, the participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance. Sometimes participants would not feed a dog before the fight to "make it more hungry for the other dog," the documents said.
Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents. The property has an above-ground swimming pool, and investigators were seen looking into the pool Friday.
During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether dogs would be good fighters, the documents said.
Members of "Bad Newz Kennels" also sponsored and exhibited fights in other parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and other states, the filings said.
On June 7, federal law enforcement officials descended on the property with a search warrant. More than a dozen vehicles went to the home early that day and investigators searched inside before turning their attention to the area where officials found dozens of dogs in late April and evidence that suggested the home was involved in a dogfighting operation.
Surry County officials had secured a search warrant in late May based on an informant's information to look for as many as 30 dog carcasses buried on the property. The warrant never was executed because Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter said he had issues with the way it was worded.
The results of that search have remained sealed.
At the time, Poindexter expressed surprise at why the federal government was involved.
"What is foreign to me is the federal government getting into a dogfighting case," Poindexter said. "I know it's been done, but what's driving this? Is it this boy's celebrity? Would they have done this if it wasn't Michael Vick?"
A day later, "They launched a separate, independent federal investigation," Poindexter said of the government, which has had a representative involved in the local probe all along.
A search warrant affidavit said some of the dogs were in individual kennels and about 30 were tethered with "heavy logging-type chains" buried in the ground. The chains allowed the dogs to get close to each other, but not to have contact, one of myriad findings on the property that suggested a dogfighting operation.
Vick initially said he had no idea the property might have been used in a criminal enterprise and blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity. He also put the house up for sale and reportedly sold it quickly, although there is no record that the sale has closed. Vick has since declined to talk about the investigation.
ESPN reporter Kelly Naqi and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
CrazyCowboy
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No surprise here......
AbeBeta
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Lot of evidence there -- his house, tons of evidence of fighting. This may not end well for him -- he may avoid jail time but he's going to get nailed by the league and his agent is probably receiving numerous faxes right now from sponsors who no longer need Vick's services.
iceberg
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Juke99;1553585 said:
i see atlanta crashing to the ground this year. when all this started you could already see that the new commish swung a heavy hammer. why trade your backup qb when you know there's a good chance your starter may be playing hard to get at the prison dances soon?
i'll bet he learns some new moves there, huh?
how many packs of cigs is vick worth???
GimmeTheBall!
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Cajuncowboy;1553567 said:
A rush to judgment
Innocent until proven guilty . . . .
He rarely visited the property and didn't know there was a MASSIVE dog-fighting operation headquartered there . . . .
liar, liar, pants on fire!!!
For once, I'm with PETA.
If convicted, the NFL has to severe ties with that guy forever and a day.
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If he's found guilty I hope the NFL does what's right...
GimmeTheBall!
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iceberg;1553592 said:
You've got it wrong, slushy.
Vick will corrupt the inmates!
:laugh1:
joseephuss
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iceberg;1553592 said:
Crashing to the ground? They lost 7 of their last 9 games last year prompting them to get a new coach and great new defensive coordinator. I say they crashed last year and now will just have a tough time getting up.
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Hostile;1553601 said:
That's true.
I would guess a lot of Falcon fans will be voicing their displeasure.
AbeBeta
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iceberg;1553583 said:
They need to do something bold here -- first they need to call the commish and convince him to drop an immediate and indefinite suspension on Vick, then the need to ban him from their facilities, then they need to sign Culpepper. If they just wait and see how this plays out it will screw them terribly. Petrino doesn't need this baggage to start.